Flying-machine



244. AERONAUTICS @m3 @Imm Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

3 sums-SHEET 2.

W I TNESSE S 24'4. AERONAUTICS nsw G. w. RILEY. FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APN. 21, 1989.

Patented Nv. 29, 1921.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

WITNESSAS UNITED STATES GEORGE W. RILEY, OF FOUKE,

FLYING-MACHINE.

Application filed April 21,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at F ouke, in the county of Miller and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines,

of which the following is a specification..

The invention relatesto air craft of the type embodyingsustaining surfaces suchas planes or wings which are adjustable to facilitate stabilizing, steering and the iiight both in an upward and downward direction. The invention relates more particularly to the sustaining surfaces, theirmountings vandoperating means whereby the machine isv rendered more responsive to the controlled dcvices, thereby enabling it to travel at relain the form, proportion, and minor details Figure 1 is a side view 'of an aeroplane" embodying the invention.

of construction may be resorted to vwithout departing from the nature ofthe invention asclaimedhereinafter. i

1 In the drawings hereto attached,; i-y.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the intermediate portion of the upper forward sustaining surface being broken away and l. parts of the braces being in section.

F igs. 8 and 4 are-detail views in, elevation of the' aeroplane showing the parts `on a reduced scale, and indicating different adjusted positions of the front and rear sustaining surfaces.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modification.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The frame work 1 of the aeroplane is of skeleton formation and suitably trussed and braced and tapers forwardly and rearwardly from an intermediate point. The frame work is provided upon its underside with wheels 2 and a drag 3, the wheels being disposed beneath the main portion of the frame and the drag 3 being located near the PATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

191s. serial110.291,440.l 4

rear. These parts-2 and 3 facilitate the landing of the machine and also assists materially in the launching when the machine is initially propelled on the ground to attain s uihcientmomentum to rise. The sustaining surfaces are provided in twogroups A and B and each group` may comprise'anyv7 number of planes depending uponv thestyle4v or type of machine.A A rudder 4 is locatedat the rear and is disposed vertically and adapted tobe swung laterallyin orijler control the lateral 'flight of the machinef The vertical flight', 'that is, they ascentland descent of the machine is A controlledbythe sustaining ysurfaces n'v vhich" as' 'indicated 'are mounted to tilt about a transverse axis so that the sustaining surfaces may be inclined at the desired angle according to the result to be attained. Each group of sustaining surfaces comprises upper and lower. planes which arev connected by cross braces' and struts or posts 6. The sustaining surfaces are mounted so as tol tiltabout a transversel aXis whereby their inclination to' the horizontal may bevaried to suit conditions and enable the desired result to be' attained both in the ascentandhdescent of the machine. The mannerfof tiltingly'fmo'unting the sustaining surfaces is immaterial andthe rela-n tive location ofjtheaxisjis 'unimportant so long as 'the sustaining surfaces are mounted to tilt about'atransverse axis. As indicated Y inV the different viewsthe axis 7 is locatedat the pointof crossing of the elements comprising the cross braces 5, this disposition of the axis being found most advanta-A geous from a point o f durability, '1 l Referring to Figs'.' 1 and 2f the rear'aris 7 is provided with a groove pulley 8 around which passes an operating cord or cable 9, the runs of which engage lsuit-able guide pulleys 1Q and are connected with the hub of a steering wheell 11 located within convenient reach of the operators seat. 12a. By proper manipulation of the steering wheel 11 the sustaining surfaces of the rear group B are adapted to be adjusted to any angle within certain limits. Fig. 3 shows the sustaining surfaces B inclined upwardly and forwardly whereas Fig. 4 indicates such surfaces inclined forwardly and downwardly.

A transverse shaft 12 is mounted upon the extending arms 13 which are connected at\ NT OFFISE..

ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOB. 0F ONE-FIFTH To J. J. SHIP?, Y or EoUKE, ARKANSAS.

their ends to verti ally disposed elements 14 which ,connect .the rear portions of ttli esns taining surfaces or planes of the :group The elements 14 may consist of wires, cables or other suitable connecting means. A worm gear 15 secured to the transverse shaft 12 -isin mesh with a worm 16` on a longitudinal 'shaft 17 mounted on the frame 1 and provided at its rear end with asteer'- ing wheel 18 within yconvenient reach ofthe operators seat 12a.` Rotation of the shaft 17 -to one direction or the other effects-a change'in the longitudinal inclination of the sustaining surfaces, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The worm gearing between the two shafts 12 and `17 is'prefe'rred since it maintains the parts in adjusted positin, therebylenabling the operatorltolreleaseliis grip upon the steering wheel 18 so that other parts requiring attention may be adjusted or the operator enabled to restas hen making a sustained in afgiyen course.r

In the modication shown in F ig. f a longitudinal Shaft 19 isprovided at its rear end; with a steering wheel 2O andV at'its kforward end with a' pulley'orl'drum" 21 around which passes a cord or cable 22, the ndsvof which are secured to theforward ends of the upper and lower sustaining planes. Rotation of the shaft 19 will ,eect a change inthe inclination of the planes inA substantially the same manner as corresponding rotation of the shaft 17.

The engine 23 is mounted upon the lower plane of the forward group A and is disposed between the upper and lower surfaces orV lanes. yThe propeller. 24 is connected to t epshaft'iof the Aengine and Ymoves-:therewith'.A It will thus be understood that Kany change inthe inclination of thesuStaining surfaces instantly` results in a correspondino rchange in the inclination of the propeller whereby the latter exertsla direct pulling force in the desired direction of movement with the result ,that the machine responds quickly vto any change in theinclination of the sustaining planes whether in 4anpupwarcl or a downward direction. This enables the aeronaut to iy at a relatively low altitude with perfect safetyV as compared with the operation of aeroplanes having xed sustaining surfaces or Vhaving such surfaces disposed atl-the quick @movement is obtainable by-a combined adjustment-of the front and rear sustaming .be simultaneously eiected by manipulating vbothsteenirig wheels 11 and 18 at.,`the same time. VVTiis indicated most clearly in Fig. l the rear drag 3 comprises a lower portion 2 5 which is hinged tothe upper portion as 26, a yieldable connection 27 extending across the joint and being connected' at its ends to each of the parts. The drag inclines rearwardly to facilitate its riding` over the ground when the machine-is starting on its liight or when landing. i "The foregoing' description and the drawings have reference to what maybe considered the preferred, or approved form of my invention. lt is to be understood that Vmay makesuch changes in'construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensionsf'et cetera," as may prove expedient and`V fall within the ls'cope of the'appended claim. y

Having thusfully describedt my invention,y what I claim vas -newv and desire to secure' by Letters Patent is: l l

A flying machine comprising a fuselage, a group of upper and lower horizontal Asustaining planes at each end of the fuselage, said groups mounted to tilt about transverse horizontal axes relatively offset in a vertical plane whereby-'the uppersurfacesof the front group swing in an arc above the fuselage and the lower surfaces of the rear group swing in an arc below the fuselage; propelling means supported between the planes of the front group and movable therewith, and tilting means connected'to each group and operable for effecting a change in the longitudinal inclination of the sustaining surfaces and a 'corresponding change in the inclination of the propeller, whereby the latter exerts a direct pulling force in the desired direction of movement.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.' 4GEORGE WV. RLE'Y. Witnesses: 1

JAMES B. PAULK, ELTON A. REYNOLDS. 

